Electronic toy capable of automatically opening mouth and sticking tongue out

ABSTRACT

A toy includes a head, a tongue, and a driving unit. The head includes a skull, an upper jaw fixed to the skull, and a lower jaw rotatably coupled to the skull and facing the upper jaw to cooperatively define an oral cavity. The tongue received in the oral cavity includes a tongue tip and a guiding rod assembly. The driving unit includes a driving shaft fixed to the skull, a rotatable disk rotatably coupled to the driving shaft, a first lever pivotally coupled between the rotatable disk and the lower jaw, a second lever pivotally coupled between the rotatable disk and the guiding rod assembly and a motor. One end of the guiding rod assembly is received in the tongue. The motor drives the rotatable disk to rotate such that the lower jaw rotates away from the upper jaw and the tongue tip protrudes out from the oral cavity.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to toy technology and particularly, to an electronic toy capable of opening its mouth and sticking its tongue out automatically.

2. Description of the Related Art

Different toys, such as animal toys and dolls, are developed for the increasing demand of the toy market. However, many of such toys are not capable of vivid motion without manual operation by a user.

Therefore, what is needed is to provide an electronic toy capable of automatically performing certain motions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an electronic toy having a mouth, a tongue, and a driving unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the mouth closed and the tongue inside the mouth.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the driving unit of the electronic toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the mouth open and the tongue sticking out.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an electronic toy having a driving unit according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the driving unit of the electronic toy of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic toy 100, such as a toy dog, according to an exemplary embodiment includes a head 12, a tongue 14, a driving unit 32, a detecting unit 24, and a controlling unit 26.

The head 12 includes a skull 122, an upper jaw 124, and a lower jaw 126. The upper jaw 124 is fixed to the skull 122. The lower jaw 126 is rotatably coupled to the skull 122 by a jaw shaft 20. Therefore, the upper jaw 124 and the lower jaw 126 face each other to cooperatively define an oral cavity 128 (see FIG. 3). A guiding groove 127 is defined in the lower jaw 126.

The tongue 14 is made from elastic material, such as flexible plastic, and is received in the oral cavity 128. The tongue 14 includes a root 142, a tip 144, and a guiding rod assembly 16. The root 142 is fixed to the lower jaw 126. The guiding rod assembly 16 includes a first rod 162 and a second rod 164. The first rod 162 includes a first end 162 a and an opposite second end 162 b. The second rod 164 includes a first end 164 a and an opposite second end 164 b. The first end 162 a of the first rod 162 and the first end 164 a of the second rod 164 are received in the tongue 14 and combine together to cooperatively form an abutting end 162 c. The second end 162 b of the first rod 162 is moveably received in the guiding groove 127. The second end 164 b of the second rod 164 may be driven to move.

The driving unit 32 is fixed in the skull 122, and includes a motor 322 and a gear assembly. The motor 322 is fixed in the skull 122 and includes a rotating shaft 322 a. The gear assembly includes a worm wheel 324, a first slave gear 326, a first shaft 327, a second slave gear 328, a third slave gear 329, a driving shaft 18, and a rotatable disk 22. The driving shaft 18 and the first shaft 327 are fixed to the skull 122. The worm wheel 324 is coaxially assembled with the rotating shaft 322 a. The first slave gear 326 is engaged (meshed) with the worm wheel 324. The second slave gear 328 is rotatably coupled to the first shaft 327, and is engaged (meshed) with the first slave gear 326. The third slave gear 329 is rotatably coupled to the driving shaft 18, and is engaged (meshed) with the second slave gear 328. The rotatable disk 22 is fixed on the third slave gear 329, so that the rotatable disk 22 is rotated by rotation of the third slave gear 329. A first lever 28 is pivotally connected between the lower jaw 126 and the third slave gear 329 so that the first lever 28 is pivotably coupled between the rotatable disk 22 and the lower jaw 126. A second lever 30 is pivotally connected between the rotatable disk 22 and the second rod 164.

Specifically, the first lever 28 includes a first end 28 a and an opposite second end 28 b. The first end 28 a of the first lever 28 is pivotally connected to a peripheral edge portion of the third slave gear 329, and the second end 28 b of the first lever 28 is pivotally connected to the lower jaw 126. Therefore, the lower jaw 126 can be driven by the rotation of the third slave gear 329 to rotate around the jaw shaft 20. The second lever 30 includes a first end 30 a and an opposite second end 30 b. The first end 30 a of the second lever 30 is pivotably connected to a peripheral edge portion of the rotatable disk 22, and the second end 30 b of the second lever 30 is pivotably connected to the second end 164 b of the second rod 164. Therefore, the second rod 164 can be driven by the rotation of the rotatable disk 22 to move the abutting end 162 c.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the detecting unit 24 is configured for detecting a rotation angle of the third slave gear 329. In this embodiment, the detecting unit 24 includes an adjustable resistor 25, such as a film resistor. The resistance of the adjustable resistor 25 varies with the rotation of the third slave gear 329. The adjustable resistor 25 includes an adjustable portion 25 a engaged with the third slave gear 329 at a location different from that of the second slave gear 328. When the adjustable portion 25 a is driven by the third slave gear 329 to rotate, the resistance of the adjustable resistor 25 changes. The detecting unit 24 detects the rotation angle of the third slave gear 329 according to the resistance of the adjustable resistor 25.

The controlling unit 26 is electrically connected to the motor 322 and the detecting unit 24. The controlling unit 26 is configured for storing a designated angle and controlling the motor 322 by comparing the detected rotation angle of the third slave gear 329 with the designated angle. When the rotation angle of the third slave gear 329 from an initial predetermined location of the first end 28 a of the first lever 28 is equal to the designated angle, the controlling unit 26 controls the motor 322 to idle (see also below). In the initial predetermined location of the first end 28 a, the lower jaw 126 is closed to the upper jaw 124 so that the mouth of the electronic toy 100 is closed.

When the motor 322 is powered on by the controlling unit 26, the rotating shaft 322 a is rotated to drive the third slave gear 329 and the rotatable disk 22 to rotate clockwise via rotation of the first slave gear 326 and the second slave gear 328. The second rod 164 is driven by the second lever 30 to move the abutting end 162 c away from the rotatable disk 22, and the lower jaw 126 is driven by the first lever 28 to rotate counterclockwise around the jaw shaft 20. The tongue 14 is extended from the oral cavity 128 by the movement of the abutting end 162 c. As a result, the electronic toy 100 opens its mouth and sticks its tongue 14 out automatically, just like a real dog does. When the detected rotation angle of the third slave gear 329 is equal to the designated angle, the controlling unit 26 idles the motor 322. Therefore, the electronic toy 100 may keep the mouth open and the tongue 14 stuck out.

To close the mouth and retract the tongue 14, the controlling unit 26 controls the rotating shaft 322 a to rotate reversely. The third slave gear 329 and the rotatable disk 22 are rotated counterclockwise by the driving of the rotating shaft 322 a via rotation of the first slave gear 326 and the second slave gear 328. The second rod 164 is driven by the second lever 30 to move the abutting end 162 c close to the rotatable disk 22, and the lower jaw 126 is driven by the first lever 28 to rotate clockwise around the jaw shaft 20 so that the tongue 14 is retracted into the oral cavity 128 by the guidance of the first rod 162 and the guiding groove 127. Thereby, the mouth of the electronic toy 100 is closed.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an electronic toy 200 according to another exemplary embodiment is shown. The difference between the electronic toy 200 and the electronic toy 100 is that a driving unit 42 of the electronic toy 200 is different from the driving unit 32 of the electronic toy 100.

The driving unit 42 includes a motor 410 and a gear assembly. The motor 410 is fixed in the skull 122, and includes a rotating shaft 410 a. The gear assembly includes a worm wheel 412, a first slave gear 414, a second slave gear 416, a first shaft 418, a clutch gear 420, a first matching gear 422, a second matching gear 424, an elastic member 426, an electromagnetic coil 428, a second shaft 34, and a fixed gear 36. In this embodiment, the elastic member 426 is a coil spring.

The worm wheel 412 is coaxially assembled with the rotating shaft 410 a. The first slave gear 414 is engaged (meshed) with the worm wheel 412. The clutch gear 420 is engaged (meshed) with the first slave gear 414. The first shaft 418 is fixed to the skull 122, and passes through the second matching gear 424, the elastic member 426, the clutch gear 420 and the first matching gear 422, in that order that the second matching gear 424, the clutch gear 420 and the first matching gear 422 are rotatably coupled to the first shaft 418. The elastic member 426 is positioned between the second matching gear 424 and the clutch gear 420.

The clutch gear 420 includes a first tooth portion 420 a facing the first matching gear 422, and a second tooth portion 420 b facing the second matching gear 424. The first matching gear 422 includes a tooth portion 422 a configured for engaging (meshing) with the first tooth portion 420 a. The second matching gear 424 includes a tooth portion 424 a configured for engaging (meshing) with the second tooth portion 420 b.

The second shaft 34 is fixed in a neck portion 13 of the electronic toy 200. The fixed gear 36 is fixed to the second shaft 34, and is engaged (meshed) with the second matching gear 424. The electromagnetic coil 428 is fixed on the second matching gear 424 and is electrically connected to a controlling unit 46.

Initially, the first tooth portion 420 a of the clutch gear 420 is engaged (meshed) with the tooth portion 422 a of the first matching gear 422. When the motor 410 is powered on by the controlling unit 46, the electronic toy 200 opens its mouth and sticks its tongue 14 out in similar fashion to the electronic toy 100.

After the mouth is opened and the tongue 14 is stuck out, the electromagnetic coil 428 is activated by the controlling unit 46. The clutch gear 420 is drawn towards the second matching gear 424 by a magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil 428, so that the first tooth portion 420 a is separated (unmeshed) from the tooth portion 422 a of the first matching gear 422 and the second tooth portion 420 b is engaged (meshed) with the tooth portion 424 a of the second matching gear 424. At the same time, the elastic member 426 is compressed by the clutch gear 420 and the second matching gear 424. Therefore, the second matching gear 424 is driven to rotate by the engagement (meshing) between the second tooth portion 420 b of the clutch gear 420 and the tooth portion 424 a of the second matching gear 424. Due to the engagement (meshing) between the second matching gear 424 and the fixed gear 36, a static reaction force is applied by the fixed gear 36 to the second matching gear 424. Therefore, the second matching gear 424 moves along the periphery of the fixed gear 36. As a result, the skull 122 is rotated around the second shaft 34. Thereby, the electronic toy 100 can raise and lower its head (the skull 122).

When the electromagnetic coil 428 idles under control of the controlling unit 46, the magnetic field is absent. The second tooth portion 420 b of the clutch gear 420 is separated from the tooth portion 424 a of the second matching gear 424 by restoration (decompression) of the elastic member 426. Therefore, the clutch gear 420 is engaged (meshed) with the first matching gear 422 again.

Advantages of the electronic toy 200 are similar to those of the electronic toy 100, and the electronic toy 200 can also achieve raising and lowering of its head 12.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. An electronic toy comprising: a head comprising a skull, an upper jaw fixed to the skull, and a lower jaw rotatably coupled to the skull in a manner such that the upper jaw and the lower jaw face each other to cooperatively define an oral cavity; a tongue received in the oral cavity and comprising a tongue tip and a guiding rod assembly; and a driving unit comprising a driving shaft, a rotatable disk, a first lever, a second lever, and a motor, the driving shaft fixed to the skull, the rotatable disk rotatably coupled to the driving shaft, the first lever pivotally coupled between the rotatable disk and the lower jaw, the second lever pivotally coupled between the rotatable disk and the guiding rod assembly, one end of the guiding rod assembly received in the tongue, and the motor capable of driving the rotatable disk to rotate such that the lower jaw rotates away from the upper jaw and the tongue tip protrudes out from the oral cavity.
 2. The electronic toy of claim 1, further comprising a jaw shaft fixed in the skull, the lower jaw rotatably coupled to the skull via the jaw shaft.
 3. The electronic toy of claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit and a controlling unit electrically connected to the detecting unit, the detecting unit configured for detecting a rotation angle of the rotatable disk, and the controlling unit configured for storing a designated angle, comparing the detected rotation angle of the rotatable disk with the designated angle, and controlling the motor according to a result of the comparison.
 4. The electronic toy of claim 1, wherein the lower jaw defines a guiding groove, the guiding rod assembly comprises a first rod and a second rod, one end of the first rod and one end of the second rod are both received in the tongue and are combined together to cooperatively form an abutting end, the other end of the first rod is received in the guiding groove, and the other end of the second rod is pivotally coupled to the second lever.
 5. The electronic toy of claim 2, wherein the driving unit further comprises a worm wheel, a first slave gear, a first shaft, a second slave gear, and a third slave gear, the worm wheel is coaxially assembled with a rotating shaft of the motor, the first slave gear is engaged with the worm wheel, the first shaft is fixed to the skull, the second slave gear is rotatably coupled to the first shaft, and the third slave gear is rotatably coupled to the driving shaft and fixed on the rotatable disk and engaged with the second slave gear.
 6. The electronic toy of claim 2, wherein the driving unit further comprises a worm wheel, a first slave gear, a second slave gear, a first shaft, a clutch gear, a first matching gear, a second matching gear, an elastic member, an electromagnetic coil, a second shaft, and a fixed gear, the worm is coaxially assembled with a rotating shaft of the motor, the first slave gear is engaged with the worm wheel, the first shaft is fixed to the skull and rotatably extends through the second matching gear, the elastic member, the clutch gear and the first matching gear in that order, the clutch gear is moveably engagable with one of the first matching gear and the second matching gear at any one time, the first slave gear is engaged with the clutch gear, the electromagnetic coil is fixed on the second matching gear, the second shaft is fixed to a neck portion of the electronic toy, the fixed gear is fixed to the second shaft and engaged with the second matching gear, the first matching gear is engaged with the second slave gear, and the second slave gear is rotatably coupled to the driving shaft and fixed on the rotatable disk.
 7. The electronic toy of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring. 